

Date: Saturday 19th Oct 2019
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Back from the International break, this afternoon sees us play host to Newcastle.
This afternoon’s game at home to Newcastle is the 165th competitive meeting between the two clubs, with us winning 72 compared to the Magpies 53. Newcastle have also lost on
each of their last seven visits to Stamford Bridge.
We were on a run of 4 wins in all competitions before the break, but we’ll have to hope we haven’t lost all the momentum we’d built up because Newcastle will do whatever they can to make this an uncomfortable one for us. They’ve already managed it away to Spurs and United, and whether ‘in a transitional season’ or not, we won’t fancy being the third notch on their bedpost.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says of today’s game “It would be easy to look at us as favourites, it would be a casual mistake for us to make that a story. We have to control what we can control, can we create chances and to make sure that we are at our best.” Whilst on Newcastle, Lampard says “I saw them at Tottenham put in some resilience, they have got templates to get results in that way. What can they do to hurt us? I expect nothing different.”
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce, meanwhile, says “We’ve seen we’re capable, but the big thing is consistency – especially away, it has to be better. The Manchester United result gave everyone a lift at the right time. Now we’re going to try and do it again.” And on Chelsea, Bruce says “The last four games there’s a certain way they’ve become accustomed to playing. We all know how many good young players they’ve got. Away to Chelsea in the Premier League era – they’ve always been a big team.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Andreas Christensen (hamstring), Antonio Rudiger (groin), Emerson Palmieri (thigh) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Achilles) all remain out, and N’Golo Kante, who has hokey-cokeyed in and out of the physio’s room all season, joins the ‘out’ list again after returning from international duty with a groin injury. Mateo Kovacic (thigh) however, should be in contention.
For Newcastle, Matt Ritchie (ankle) and Florian Lejeune miss out through, while Isaac Hayden is still suspended.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Kouma, Tomori, Alonso; Barkley; Jorginho; Willian, Mount; Hudson-Odoi; Abraham.
NEWCASTLE (Possible line-up): Dubravka; Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Clark, Willems; Almiron, S.Longstaff, M.Longstaff, Saint-Maximin; Joelinton
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle (12th January 2019)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: WDWLWW
NEWCASTLE: WDLDLW
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea have won six successive Premier League home games against Newcastle.
- Newcastle have won just one of their last 25 league visits to Chelsea.
- Newcastle’s only win in seven Premier League meetings came at home in May 2018.
- Chelsea have won their last four games in all competitions.
- Chelsea have only kept one clean sheet in 12 games.
- Only five of Chelsea’s 14 league points have come at Stamford Bridge.
- Newcastle’s win against United was only their 2nd win in nine games in all competitions.
- Both of Newcastle’s wins this season have been against established top-six opposition.
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle
Sky Sports: Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle
Sportsmole: Chelsea 3-1 Newcastle